Dec. 20, 2008

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WACO, Texas (AP) -Curtis Jerrells scored 29 points and made 16 of 17 free throw attempts to help No. 21 Baylor survive Texas-Arlington, 79-76 Saturday night.

Tweety Carter scored 13 for Baylor (9-1) and Henry Dugat had 11 points.

The Bears took their first lead of the second half on a drive and spinning layup by Jerrells with 6:12 left. Jumpers from Jerrells and Kevin Rogers put Baylor up 70-65, completing a 10-0 spurt - the only sustained run either team could muster in the game.

Jerrells hit three of four free throws in the final minute, his only miss with 16.9 seconds left. Texas-Arlington rebounded and had a chance to tie, but Anthony Vereen's 3-point attempt bounced off the rim and Baylor's Fred Ellis grabbed the rebound to seal it.

Marquez Haynes scored 14 to lead Texas-Arlington (4-5). Tommy Moffitt had 12 points and Roge'r Guignard scored 10.

Baylor never found its rhythm in the first half. The Bears trailed 41-32 at the break for the first time this season and never led by more than one point in the first period.

Texas-Arlington stretched the lead to 11 on its first field goal of the second half, the biggest advantage either team would enjoy on the night.

Baylor trailed 49-40 with 15:45 remaining in the game before a jumper in the lane by Jerrells and a 3-pointer from Dugat cut the Texas-Arlington lead to four. The teams swapped buckets before LaceDarius Dunn's 3 cut the lead to 51-50 with 13:06 to play.

Texas-Arlington led 53-52 before a 3-point basket from Guignard and a 3-pointer and two free throws by Vereen put the Mavericks back up 61-52 with 10:38 remaining.

Dunn, Baylor's leading scorer at 16.9 points per game, was largely ineffective. He picked up three fouls in the first half and played just 20 minutes, eventually fouling out with 3:45 left after scoring nine points.